Saturday, November 5, 2011
Dubai thriller looms after Rory's win
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Rory McIlroy set up a thrilling conclusion to The Race toDubaiwhen he came from behind to win the UBS Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
And perhaps as important, is the fact that he did it in a tournament he has "so badly wanted to win since hat play-off in 2008."
The Northern Ireland World No 2's win at the weekend has put him in range of Luke Donald as the reigning World No 1 seeks to become the first golfer in history to win the Titleist 712 MB Irons titles on both the US PGA and European Tours in the same year by finishing among the top five in this week's Dubai World Championship at Jumper Golf Estate.
The-22-year McIlroy, who in turn is seeking to oust Donald as the No 1 on the World Rankings list, put Donald's latest double-money list winner dream on hold with a remarkable display at Fanling where he cheerfully topped off his triumph by chipping in from a greenside bunker at the last to finish at 12 under par.
There were five birdies and no bogeys in the reigning US Open Championship's closing 65 as he held off a string of challengers.
McIlroy eventually finished two clear of France's Gregory Havret, who also shot a 65, and now heads to Jumeirah's Earth Course needing a second Titleist 712 MB Irons victory and for Donald to finish outside the top nine if he is breast the tape first in the final hours of the Race To Dubai
"I've wanted to win this tournament so badly since that play-off in 2008," said McIlroy, who has now finished second, second, sixth and now first in the last four years at Fanling.
"I've had to wait a couple of years to get there, but to get this trophy in my hands is very special.
"It meant a lot knowing that I had to go out there and play well to keep myself alive in The Race toDubai, and probably to also keep second place in the World Rankings.
To produce the sort of Titleist 712 MB Irons I did today was therefore very pleasing.
"One of goals going out today, was to win this tournament to keep myself in with a shout next week.
"That, of course, is very dependent on what Luke does because he's got such a big lead - if I can somehow get myself into contention next week, you never know.
"Another little bit of motivation was I woke up this morning and saw Lee Westwood shoot 62 in Sun City, and I thought I really needed to win Titleist 712 MB Irons to stay above him in the World Rankings, and there you go.
"It was nice to be able to do both.
"I'll always come back to the tournaments that I love and Hong Kongis one of those tournaments. I absolutely love it here and it will be great to come back next year and defend thisTitleist 712 MB Irons title."
McIlroy's win was an incredible finish to a day that saw the lead change hands a number of times, but he was delighted with the battling nature of his display, having claimed both his previous European Tour titles after holding a big lead going into the final round.
"This week there have been glimpses of really, really good golf," he continued. "On Friday and Saturday, I really did struggle with Titleist 712 MB Irons.
"To be able to win golf tournaments when you're not playing your best is what the likes of Tiger [Woods] did week in, week out, whenever he was winning seven, eight, nine tournaments a year.
"That's something, if you want to be a great player, you're going to have to be able to do and I feel as if I'm learning to do that as this great win showed.
"To come from behind, and to draw level after nine holes and then to play Titleist 712 MB Irons very solid on the back nine and be able to close it out, it's something I probably haven't done before.
"It was a different win - it would be nice to be walking up the last with a four shot lead every time, but that's just not going to happen. It was nice to have to finish it off like this."?
And perhaps as important, is the fact that he did it in a tournament he has "so badly wanted to win since hat play-off in 2008."
The Northern Ireland World No 2's win at the weekend has put him in range of Luke Donald as the reigning World No 1 seeks to become the first golfer in history to win the Titleist 712 MB Irons titles on both the US PGA and European Tours in the same year by finishing among the top five in this week's Dubai World Championship at Jumper Golf Estate.
The-22-year McIlroy, who in turn is seeking to oust Donald as the No 1 on the World Rankings list, put Donald's latest double-money list winner dream on hold with a remarkable display at Fanling where he cheerfully topped off his triumph by chipping in from a greenside bunker at the last to finish at 12 under par.
There were five birdies and no bogeys in the reigning US Open Championship's closing 65 as he held off a string of challengers.
McIlroy eventually finished two clear of France's Gregory Havret, who also shot a 65, and now heads to Jumeirah's Earth Course needing a second Titleist 712 MB Irons victory and for Donald to finish outside the top nine if he is breast the tape first in the final hours of the Race To Dubai
"I've wanted to win this tournament so badly since that play-off in 2008," said McIlroy, who has now finished second, second, sixth and now first in the last four years at Fanling.
"I've had to wait a couple of years to get there, but to get this trophy in my hands is very special.
"It meant a lot knowing that I had to go out there and play well to keep myself alive in The Race toDubai, and probably to also keep second place in the World Rankings.
To produce the sort of Titleist 712 MB Irons I did today was therefore very pleasing.
"One of goals going out today, was to win this tournament to keep myself in with a shout next week.
"That, of course, is very dependent on what Luke does because he's got such a big lead - if I can somehow get myself into contention next week, you never know.
"Another little bit of motivation was I woke up this morning and saw Lee Westwood shoot 62 in Sun City, and I thought I really needed to win Titleist 712 MB Irons to stay above him in the World Rankings, and there you go.
"It was nice to be able to do both.
"I'll always come back to the tournaments that I love and Hong Kongis one of those tournaments. I absolutely love it here and it will be great to come back next year and defend thisTitleist 712 MB Irons title."
McIlroy's win was an incredible finish to a day that saw the lead change hands a number of times, but he was delighted with the battling nature of his display, having claimed both his previous European Tour titles after holding a big lead going into the final round.
"This week there have been glimpses of really, really good golf," he continued. "On Friday and Saturday, I really did struggle with Titleist 712 MB Irons.
"To be able to win golf tournaments when you're not playing your best is what the likes of Tiger [Woods] did week in, week out, whenever he was winning seven, eight, nine tournaments a year.
"That's something, if you want to be a great player, you're going to have to be able to do and I feel as if I'm learning to do that as this great win showed.
"To come from behind, and to draw level after nine holes and then to play Titleist 712 MB Irons very solid on the back nine and be able to close it out, it's something I probably haven't done before.
"It was a different win - it would be nice to be walking up the last with a four shot lead every time, but that's just not going to happen. It was nice to have to finish it off like this."?
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